Characteristics of effective schools. (c2006)

Abstract

For over twenty years, the effective schools research has been growing and employed by many schools as a framework for school improvement. Effective religious schools are regarded as academic and faith communities that foster the academic, religious, and value development of their students. Through a case study methodology, the author identified and analyzed the characteristics of an effectiveness religious school in Beirut, to gain a better understanding of how its characteristics contributed to achieving and sustaining its effectiveness. The data were collected at the school through semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, observation checklists, and existing school documents, records, and artifacts. The qualitative data were analyzed using a model that encompassed three essential components: school culture, curriculum and instructional practices, school leadership. From the case analysis the following conclusions were drawn. First, the religious school A.B. is effective due to the interaction of all its characteristics. Second, the school's safe and orderly environment, shared mission, home - school relationship, and the staffs high expectations for student success led to improved achievement and motivation. Third, the curriculum committees and the relationships that enabled the staff to work together were essential to increase achievement. Fourth, the school's religious and instructional leadership in terms of goal focus, curriculum alignment, formation of the school's faith community, well - planned staff development, and test data analysis helped to support the school's efforts and to increase its effectiveness. The results in this study represented a model of an effective religious school with its variables that can be used to understand how to create a school that demonstrates quality and effectiveness.